SVAG FEI European Championships Junior Riders 2016 Team Competition

Team gold for Italy’s Juniors, silver for France and bronze for Belgium

21 Juniors and 22 Young Riders from all of Europe were simmering with excitement towards their first big appearance yesterday: the team competition with the Individual riders qualification were on the agenda, pattern 5 was ridden.

With the 14-18 year old Juniors it was Margaux Legrand from France with her 15 year old stallion News Doc Peppy Cat scoring 208 to set the first score for team France. But even before the first drag time the Italian Matteo Manuel Bonzano riding High Point Reiner, a seven year old stallion owned by 23 Quarter horses beat the score setting the mark at 215.5.

No one could reach up to his score until the last quarter of the draw list as Marie Baralon, team France, riding her mare Chicken Sandwich (it’s the horse’s real name!) scored 215 for second place and secured the silver medal for France.

Franziska Wallner on board of Prosecco Enterprise strengthened the position of the German team by scoring 212.5 after her team-mate Johannes Heil set the pace with his eight year old mare FR Gunner Sisi at the beginning of the competition.

At times, joy and disappointment are not far apart and Lena Maas with Pop Gun Cash BB, had to make the experience that a horse in an individual beeing. The eight year old gelding, owned by Eifel Gold Ranch, spooked in the arena which led to the score zero. This unfortunately meant the end for the German team.

The Belgium riders and their fans had all reason to be happy. Bert Coeckelbergh and the mare Toosexy For Ricochet had a fantastic run scoring 212 which set the foundation for the bronze medal.

With this year’s team Italy was able to top the silver medal success of 2015: 2016 it’s the gold medal for the Italian Junior team!

Training, shows, qualification, the nomination and then the definite decision who will be in the team to compete for the FEI European Championships – all of this lays behind the young competitors of both FEI European Championship classes.

Of course everyone gives their best and of course everyone would like to win, but also the adventure, the team spirit and the experiences each young rider is able to make this weekend in Givrins are precious puzzle pieces for their future riding career.